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Windows 10 Mobile flagships compared, 2016 (part 1)

It's all very well having been accustomed to the Microsoft pairing of the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, but there's a good chance that we won't see any new hardware from Microsoft until 2017, in which case any upcoming device excitement will come from Microsoft's partners. We already know of a few of these, so I thought a detailed comparison might be in order. Is the 950 XL still going to be top of the heap or are there other subtleties involved?

Here we go then. Some notes:

I can't really avoid a table here, but I've kept it as narrow as possible - if you're viewing on a phone screen you'll definitely want to try it in landscape mode! Or, as a last resort, use this image version instead.

Some finer details, especially for the Jade Primo, are unknown. We're hoping to have a review unit shortly.

No special certifications,but back comes off for easy access to components

No special certifications,but back comes off for easy access to components

IP67 liquid and dust

No special certifications

Other

Continuum-ready

Somtimes comes with the Microsoft Display Dock, plus a year of Office 365

Continuum-ready

Often comes with the Microsoft Display Dock, plus a year of Office 365

Continuum-ready

Several dock options available,including HP Lap Dock

Continuum-ready

Several dock options available,including Liquid Extend lapdock

With a barrage of mid-range and budget designs running Windows 10 Mobile, I guess it's good to have four genuine flagships, devices which can hold their head up high in the modern world of the Galaxy S7, Note 5, iPhone 6 Plus, etc., with a definite emphasis here on the 'phablet' form factor. I've said many times that Windows 10 runs best if you give it more real estate - we saw this from the start on the Lumia 1520, which was the archetypal test device for the new OS version. And today my SIM is in the Lumia 950 XL - get over the need for two hands to hold and operate, and the experience is very swish indeed and never cramped.

And so we have the HP and Acer designs, with the former going pedal-to-the-metal in terms of specifications. In terms of the most power you can hold in your hand, the Elite X3 takes some beating, matching the very fastest and most capable flagships in the Android world. Although I'm going to pick a winner here, it's really not a competition, since the world of phones which run Windows 10 Mobile is relatively small - there's plenty of room for all-comers, provided they're any good.

In terms of feel in the hand and usability, the Lumia 950 is going to take some beating. With a Mozo case on it's almost a perfect form factor and the highest specs-to-volume ratio of almost anything on the planet. But as we've said many times, Windows 10 Mobile thrives on screen real estate - unsurprising in view of all the shared UI code with the Windows 10 desktop (in contrast, Android's UI can seem awkward on really large phones unless the manufacturers have made an effort to enhance the UX). So, with a screen size of 5.5+ or above in mind, it's down to three flagships.

The Acer Jade Primo is welcome in the ecosystem, but the specifications are already looking a little stale for a mid-2016 release. Moreover, the Jade Primo is half a centimetre longer than the Lumia 950 XL while having a smaller display, i.e. there are larger top and bottom bezels, and with no apparent reason for this, so I'm going to rule this out of the 'race'.

Leaving the Lumia 950 XL, which still impresses, especially (again) with one of the various Mozo replacement backs (leather/wood/whatever) - the specs are very high, the bezels small and the imaging abilities unparalleled. But, just pipping it at the post, might have to be the HP Elite X3. Although its imaging is going to be significantly inferior to the Lumia 950 XL (that's not an insult - everything is inferior to this at the moment), the Elite X3 scores in a number of significant ways:

Snapdragon 820 and faster GPU, along with 4GB RAM - should make for a faster experience overall, especially driving a Continuum display

Much larger battery - a whopping 415mAh, made possible by the larger form factor (and display)

Fully water and dust proof (making up for being 'sealed' in the first place)

The fingerprint reader will make biometrics much more convenient for many people and help with any mobile payments in the future

The twin B&O speakers are VERY welcome, especially in comparison with the paltry and tinny mono effort on the 950 XL

The Elite X3 therefore takes the crown, though I'm not due to play with final hardware for a few weeks and it'll be a few more weeks before anyone gets to see retail phones and kit. And then add on that the Elite X3 is being aimed at businesses first and foremost and that it may not be simple to grab one of these as a consumer. And then add in that it will be expensive - I'm estimating £600+VAT in the UK. Plus the cost of the 'Elite X3 Lap Dock', which you can bet will be in the £150+VAT region. Making for a very expensive solution for a single Windows 10 Mobile enthusiast.

Your comments welcome - what else would you like to see and from which companies through the rest of 2016? There are plenty of Microsoft partners that have yet to throw their hat into the Windows 10 Mobile (and Continuum) ring!

PS. Watch this space for a detailed hands-on with the HP and Acer devices above, and their accessories. And indeed for much more Windows 10 OEM hardware in the coming months.

PPS. I'm fascinated to find out how compatible the various lap docks and similar accessories are across phones from different manufacturers. In theory, they should all be compatible, but, well, you know.....(!)